UK expected to stop short of Australian-style social media ban
Molly Russell’s father urges Starmer to ‘follow the evidence’ stop harm reaching children on social media
The UK government is expected to avoid a complete ban on social media for under-16s after a recent consultation on the issue concluded with over 81,000 responses.
Instead of an outright ban, ministers are expected to focus on prohibiting addictive features for under-16s, such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and location sharing, a move supported by tech industry insiders.
This approach contrasts with Australia’s policy of a full ban for under-16s, which research indicates has not prevented the majority of young people from still using social media platforms.
The prime minister is anticipated to unveil plans for social media regulation in the coming weeks, amidst calls from figures like Wes Streeting for a complete ban, likening social media to tobacco.
Bereaved parents, whose children’s deaths were linked to social media, met with Keir Starmer, urging immediate action within weeks for a ban on under-16s’ social media use and the implementation of phone-free policies in schools.
